SCENE: LUCARD'S JET. LUCARD JUMPS TO HIS FEET WHEN AMARANTHA AND MAX SUDDENLY APPEAR, ACCOMPANIED BY THE NOW-TYPICAL WHISPER OF AIR AND ANOTHER WOMAN, VEILED AND SWATHED IN BLACK SO THAT ONLY HER DARK EYES AND A BIT OF DUSKY SKIN SHOW. THOSE EYES DART AROUND, SEARCHING FOR DANGER. CHRIS AND SOPHIE ALSO SEEM NERVOUS.

Chris and Sophie: Max!

Max: Chris! Sophie! What happened?

Amarantha: (to everyone, mainly both Lucard and Amina) It's okay. Everything's all right.

Chris: Lucard's holding us prisoner!

Lucard: You are my guests, enforced only so far as is necessary for the continued enjoyment of your company.

Sophie: He's taking us to England, and then all over the world!

Max: Wow!

Sophie: What happened to _you_?

Max: Oh, this is Amarantha, she's nice, but she won't let me go. Nicer than Amy, anyway.

Amina: (pointing at Lucard) He has the seals?

Amarantha: Yes, but he's not going to use them on you. (Fiercely, to Lucard) Will you?

Lucard: I would never wish to inconvenience a woman who has yet to inconvenience myself. Hello, Maximillian. My dear Amarantha, how are you doing? To what do I owe the honor of your visit, and who is your _charming_ companion?

Amarantha: This is Amina. She's . . .

LUCARD ATTEMPTS TO TAKE AMINA'S HAND TO KISS IT, BUT AMINA JUMPS AWAY AND PUFFS INTO SMOKE, WHICH DISPERSES QUICKLY.

Amarantha: (resignedly) . . . been in Saudi Arabia, and is very afraid of being locked up again, so if she decides to come back, please don't scare her.

Lucard: I shall do my utmost. Unfortunately, I seem to intimidate a great many people. I can't imagine why.

HE CAPTURES AMARANTHA'S HAND, PLACING A PRECISE KISS ON IT. SHE BLUSHES LIGHTLY AND DANCES A FEW STEPS BACK.

Amarantha: M Lucard! Please!

Lucard: It's harmless, my dear.

Amarantha: (wagging her finger at him) Not entirely. (glances at Sophie, who is carefully not looking at them)

Lucard: (turns around) Ah, Sophie, I haven't yet introduced you. This is Fraulein Amarantha Papodopolis. She will, I hope, be joining us at the concert.

Amarantha: (stepping forward to shake Sophie's hand) I like to keep business relationships on the business level, M Lucard. Besides, I would sooo hate to inconvenience you.

Lucard: Not at all. I already have a third ticket that I did not know what to do with.

Amarantha: Well, I don't want to leave Max alone, and that's that. Besides, I have to . . . um . . .

Lucard: Nothing that can't be put off, I trust. I have made arrangements for Christopher. Maximillian can join him.

Max: Hey! I don't want to be locked up again!

Chris: I thought you said she was nice!

Amarantha: (defensively) It was just for the night! He had better sleeping quarters than I did! Max, I was right there, you know how well I slept!

Max: You slept for two hours after I woke up, and I was bored.

Amarantha: I had a visitor in the middle of the night, and he kept me up.

Chris: (smirking) He?

Amarantha: (stung) I am biologically immature, and completely disinclined to anything of the nature, so shut up!

Max: Now you sound like Amy.

Lucard: (loudly) Please! (all look at him) The boys will be going to the amusement or attraction of their choice within city limits. Given that it's London, they should have as much fun as if the entire world were at their disposal which, at the proper time, it shall be.

Max: Really? All right!

Lucard: They will be accompanied by responsible people who will see them safely through the day and ensure that they return to the plane at night in time for us to leave to Madrid. Thence, we shall head to the Americas. Boston, I believe.

Amarantha: So you're really going all around the world?

Lucard: That is my intention. There are, of course, many unforseeable circumstances, but I doubt any will inconvenience me.

Amarantha: Let me see the tickets.

LUCARD BRINGS THEM OUT OF HIS POCKET AND DISPLAYS THEM TO HER. SHE STARTS TO REACH FOR THEM, AND HE DRAWS BACK A LITTLE, SO SHE PUTS HER HANDS BEHIND HER BACK AND MERELY LOOKS.

Amarantha: The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields?

Sophie: Really? I thought we were going to see the Royal Philharmonic.

Lucard: (smiling toothily) A suprise.

Amarantha: Is that kind of . . . fancy-dress?

Lucard: (imitating Amarantha's inflection) 'Kind of.' We are fortunate that they are in residence in Great Britain today. The founder, Sir Neville Marriner, will be conducting tonight.

Amarantha: These are the only clothes I own.

LUCARD TAKES A LONG, APPRAISING LOOK AT HER. SHE'S WEARING A NAVY-BLUE T-SHIRT, JUNGLE GREEN PANTS, AND A WHITE AND SKY BLUE SAILOR'S HAT.

Lucard: (making completely unnecessary adjustments to his own jacket) My dear, something must be done about your fashion sense. No matter. If I'm going to buy you the outfits you'll need for our coming tour, I might as well choose for you.

Amarantha: (squeaks) What!?

Lucard: Sophie, I don't believe I've allowed you time to pack. Fortuitously, it is early in the day, and we will have plenty of time to make all the purchases necessary.

Sophie: What purchases are necessary?

Lucard: Anything you want is essential.

SOPHIE IS SPEECHLESS, DOUBTLESS IMAGINING EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S GOING TO DECIDE IS 'ESSENTIAL.'

Amarantha: Shopping!? Umm . . . I don't think I like that.

Lucard: Why not?

Amarantha: I don't want you doing me any favors.

Lucard: Fraulein, it is a favor to myself to prevent me having to be seen in public with a woman wearing what you might consider appropriate. (looks deeply into her eyes, taking her right hand between both of his) I would like to see you in an outfit more flattering.

AMARANTHA STARES AT HIM, EXPRESSIONLESS, FOR A LONG PERIOD, THEN LAUGHS UNEASILY, STEPS BACK AND CAREFULLY LOOKS AWAY FROM LUCARD'S EYES, GAZING AT HER FEET AND SNEAKING GLANCES THROUGH HER BANGS.

Amarantha: It's a favor to you, right? And just a loan, okay? And I haven't agreed yet. It's a bit of a slap of luxury, and I'm not going to let you control me. All right?

Lucard: (showing more teeth, but a bit less obviously in a smile) Perfectly all right.

Amarantha: After all, I didn't come here for that.

Lucard: Then why did you come?

Amarantha: I came to apologize for whatever Amy did.

Lucard: (very self-satisfied) Ah. A trifling nuisance, no more.

Amarantha: (cheerfully) Okay.

LUCARD IS SLIGHTLY PUT OUT THAT HE WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY. AMARANTHA AGAIN GLANCES AT SOPHIE, WHO IS LOOKING A LITTLE PUT OUT, AND FREES HER HAND TO MAKE AN UNOBTRUSIVE GESTURE IN SOPHIE'S DIRECTION. ANNOYED, LUCARD TURNS, THEN APPLIES HIS CHARM.

Lucard: I'm doing business in front of you, my dear. I do humbly beseech you of your pardon. (OTHELLO III, iii, 177) These most brisk and giddy-paced times (TWELFTH-NIGHT, II, iv, 6) desiring this man's art and that man's scope with what I most enjoy contented least ; yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, haply I think on thee. (SHAKESPEARE'S SONNET 29)

Amarantha: (more to Sophie than to anyone but herself) I will neither yield to the song of the siren nor the voice of the hyena, the tears of the crocodile nor the howling of the wolf. (CHAPMAN, "EASTWARD HO," V, i)

Lucard: (frowning a little. He means it for Amarantha, and currently does not notice that it applies to himself in a different way) Take note, take note, O world! To be direct and honest is not safe. (OTHELLO III, iii, 378) I may command where I adore. (TWELFTH-NIGHT, II, v, 116)

Amarantha: Understand how some men so loved her, that they did dare much for her sake. . . . Nay, my very soul was struggling, and my half-remembered sensibilities were striving to answer the call. . . . This is to you for twice reasons. First, because you are young and brave and can fight, and all energies may be needed at the last. And again that it is your right to destroy him. (STOKER)

Lucard: (strides quickly to the door of the cockpit) Captain! Are we almost to England?

Captain: (a little indistinct, and we don't see him) We should begin the landing pattern inside of twenty minutes. Buckle up in ten.

Amarantha: I beg your pardon. Mitera tries to break me of my disagreeable habits, but she seems to have little success.

Lucard: You and your confederate need to learn not to insult your host, especially if you have yet to be invited.

Amarantha: But you _did_ invite me, Lucard: to the symphony.

Lucard: And you seem to be doing your best to not go without refusing me outright. I require an answer, Fraulein.

Amarantha: (chuckling, slightly nervously) I'll show up again if I decide to come. I really don't need to go through customs.

Lucard: That is not a problem . . . for me.

HOWEVER, AMARANTHA HAS ALREADY DISAPPEARED WITH A POP. LUCARD FROWNS AT THE PLACE SHE WAS, THEN QUICKLY RECALLS HIMSELF AND TURNS TO MAX.

Lucard: Well, Maximilian, I hope you're pleased to join us.

Max: Uh . . .

Lucard: I daresay you'll enjoy Blackpool.

Max: What's that?

Lucard: A tourist trap that has no purpose other than to make money. While I can identify with that, I really think there are more beneficial ways to do it.

Sophie: It's a city with a lot of stuff to do. Shows and rides and arcades and things like that. (to Lucard) And we're going to see St. Martin?

Lucard: (nods an affirmative) After we find an appropriate gown.

Sophie: (not entirely sure if she should be excited about this as she is) Alone together?

CHRIS AND MAX LOOK REALLY WORRIED.

Lucard: If the Fraulein does not return, naturally. (annoyed) Perhaps even if she does.

~

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